A Lantern in Porcelain

I discovered a solitary, paper-dry physalis pod resting inside a shallow porcelain saucer near the window glass. Its orange ribs arched like the delicate dome of an imperial pavilion, or perhaps a nomadic yurt perched beneath the quiet night sky. With deliberate care, I nudged the brittle husk with my palm, savoring the faint, papery rustle against the smooth glaze. Inside, the round amber berry swayed in serene isolation. A delightful masquerade for an autumn evening in Moscow.